Chair leg stabilizer apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for stabilizing a chair with at least one leg that rests on a floor surface. The apparatus includes a body with a receiver. The receiver is configured to snugly receive the at least one chair leg. The apparatus also includes a base that is resiliently secured with respect to the body. The base is configured to engage the floor surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/557,489, filed Nov. 9, 2011, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to chairs and, in particular, to devices for stabilizing chairs.

BACKGROUND

When seated in a chair that is meant for adults, children can sometimes sit improperly, stand up on the seat, or push back to tilt the chair on its rear legs. This improper use can cause an imbalance in weight distribution causing the chair to tip and fall backwards, which could break the chair and/or injure the user.

Accordingly, it can be seen that needs exist for improved device that allows children or any user to safely sit in adult-sized chairs and stools without tipping over. It is to the provision of solutions to these and other problems that the present invention is primarily directed.

SUMMARY

Generally described, the present invention relates to support apparatus to stabilize a chair or stool without permanent alteration of the same. The apparatus can have a receiver collar, a connector and a base.

In a first example embodiment, the invention relates to an apparatus for stabilizing a chair with at least one leg that rests on a floor surface. The apparatus includes a body with a receiver. The receiver is configured to snugly receive the at least one chair leg. The apparatus also includes a base that is resiliently secured with respect to the body. The base is configured to engage the floor surface.

In another example embodiment, the invention relates to an apparatus for stabilizing a chair with at least one leg that rests on a floor surface. The apparatus includes a receiver that is configured to snugly receive the at least one chair leg. The apparatus also includes at least one foot that is configured to engage the floor surface. The at least one foot is rigidly connected with respect to the receiver through a unitary construction.

In another example embodiment, the invention relates to a method for stabilizing a chair with at least one leg that rests on a floor surface. The method includes providing an apparatus for stabilizing the chair. The apparatus includes a receiver and a base for engaging the floor surface. The method also includes snugly receiving the at least one chair leg within the apparatus receiver. The method also includes receiving a resistive force from the floor surface onto the base.

The specific techniques and structures employed to improve over the drawbacks of the prior devices and accomplish the advantages described herein will become apparent from the following detailed description of example embodiments and the appended drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stabilizing apparatus according to a first example embodiment of the present invention, showing the stabilizing apparatus in use with a chair.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the stabilizing apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a side view of the stabilizing apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3B is a side view of an alternative example embodiment of the stabilizing apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a front view of another alternative example embodiment of the stabilizing apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5A is a side view of the stabilizing apparatus of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5B is a side view of an alternative example embodiment of the stabilizing apparatus of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions, or parameters of the example embodiments described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only. Thus, the terminology is intended to be broadly construed and is not intended to be unnecessarily limiting of the claimed invention. For example, as used in the specification including the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural, the term “or” means “and/or,” and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In addition, any methods described herein are not intended to be limited to the sequence of steps described but can be carried out in other sequences, unless expressly stated otherwise herein.

Generally described, the present invention relates to a support apparatus to stabilize a chair or stool without permanent alteration of the same. Typically, a chair or stool has at least one front leg and at least one rear leg. More typically, a chair or stool has at least a pair of front legs and at least a pair of rear legs. The rear leg or pair of legs are typically designed to have a particular vertical and horizontal disposition. Example dispositions include straight down perpendicularly from the underside of a chair seat. Alternative example dispositions include extending from the underside of a chair seat at a particular angle with respect either the front-rear axis and or the side-side axis. As a result, chair legs can typically be angled outwards away from either the back or the sides of the seat. Further, chair or stool legs can typically have a particular length separating their outer edges, or horizontal width.

The present invention according to a preferred example embodiment is a stabilizer apparatus that engages with respect to the rear leg or legs of a chair or stool and prevents the chair or stool from being rocked in the forward-rearward axis. Thus, the apparatus prevents a chair or stool from tipping over backwards. To achieve this function, the apparatus engages snugly about the rear leg or legs and engages the floor surface in front of and/or behind the rear leg or legs.

FIGS. 1-3 show a stabilizer apparatus 10 according to a first example embodiment of the present invention. The stabilizer apparatus 10 has a rigid and durable construction capable of resisting the force applied by a chair leg 13 that is tipping backwards. The stabilizer apparatus 10 includes a body 12 and a base 14. As depicted, the body 12 can have a receiver or collar 16 to receive the rear leg 13 or legs of a chair or stool. The dimensions of the collar 16 are such that when the leg 13 or legs of a chair or stool are inserted through the top opening, the collar forms a snug fit with the legs. Alternatively, the collar 16 can form a releasable friction fit with the leg 13 or legs. The body 12 can have a height between the top and bottom surfaces of between about 4 inches and 8 inches, more preferably between about 5 inches and about 7 inches, and most preferably about 6 inches.

The stabilizer apparatus 10 also has a base 14 that can include one or a pair of feet 18. An example foot 18 can be a planar surface as depicted. As depicted, each foot 18 is designed to engage a horizontal floor surface on which the leg 13 or legs of the chair or stool are placed. Preferably, each foot 18 engages the horizontal floor surface in a generally parallel disposition. Each foot 18 is rigidly secured with respect to the collar 16 so that the angle of connection between the depicted foot planar surface and the collar is fixed. Each foot 18 can have a generally tapering shape that expands in width from an end proximal to the body to a distal end away from the body. Alternatively each foot 18 can have a generally rectangular or square shape. Further, each foot 18 can have a height (i.e., extending between the proximal and distal end) of between about 2 inches and about 5 inches, more preferably about 3 inches to about 4 inches. Each foot 18 can have a length of between about 17 inches to about 25 inches, more preferably between about 18 inches and about 24 inches depending upon the width between the outer edges of the leg 13 or legs of the chair or stool.

The body 12 can also have a connector or neck 20 section that connects the collar 16 to the base 14. The body 12 is preferably rigidly connected to both the collar 16 and the base 14 so as to resist any bending or flexing. As depicted, the neck 20 can be planar bodies having tapering diameters between a narrow top edge and a wider bottom edge. As depicted in FIG. 3A, the neck 20 planar bodies can be angled in a flush or parallel vertical axis with the collar 16. Alternatively as depicted in FIG. 3B, the connector or neck planar bodies 20B can extend at an oblique angle with respect to the vertical axis. In both embodiments, the longitudinal axis along the centerline of the collar is laterally offset from the longitudinal axis along the centerline of each foot in the base 14. As depicted, the neck 20, 20B can have open sides between a pair of planar bodies.

In use, the stabilizing apparatus 10 is set on a floor surface so that the base 14 engages the floor surface. A rear leg 13 or pair of legs from a chair or stool is/are inserted through the open top of the collar 16 until the leg or legs contact the floor surface. If a child or user proceeds to tilt the rear leg 13 or legs backward, the collar 16 will press against the leg and the base 14 will press against the floor surface, thus preventing further backward rotation of the chair with respect to the floor surface. When the chair leg is tipped, it will apply a rotational force through the base 14 and onto the floor surface. In response, the floor surface will apply an equal and opposite resistive force to the underside of the base 14. Further, because of the planar geometry of the base 14, it is able to receive a greater amount of resistive force. Because the base 14 and collar 16 are rigidly secured to each other, this resistive force will result in the chair being unable to tip over. Alternatively, the same procedure can be undertaken with the front leg or legs of a chair or stool to prevent forward tilting of a chair.

An alternative stabilizing apparatus 40 is shown in FIGS. 4-5B. This alternative stabilizing apparatus 40 has a base 44 with feet 48 similar to the apparatus 10 described above. This alternative stabilizing apparatus 40 is depicted to have a body 42 that extends from a collar 46 to the base 44 and does not have side openings as described in the above apparatus 10. The body 42 can have vertical sides that are generally perpendicular to the base 44 and flush with the collar 46. Alternatively as depicted in FIG. 5B, the body can have an angled surface extending from the top of the collar 46B to the base feet 48. This angle can be predetermined with respect to a vertical axis. Not shown, the sidewalls of the body in FIGS. 4-5B can have a consistent thickness. Alternatively, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5B, the side wall of the body can be increasing in thickness from the collar 46 so that the internal cavity maintains a cylindrical shape similarly to the embodiment in FIG. 5A.

While the claimed invention has been shown and described in example forms, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications, additions, and deletions can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for stabilizing a chair comprising at least one leg that rests on a floor surface, the apparatus comprising: a body comprising a receiver, the receiver being configured to snugly receive the at least one chair leg; and a base resiliently secured with respect to the body, the base being configured to engage the floor surface.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiver comprises a collar.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the collar comprises a curved region and a planar region.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base comprises at least one foot.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the at least one foot comprises a planar surface.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one foot planar surface comprises a tapered geometry.
 7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the base comprises a pair of feet.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises at least one connector to secure the receiver with respect to the base.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one connector comprises a planar region.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the planar region comprises a tapered geometry.
 11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one connector extends at an oblique angle between the receiver and the base.
 12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one connector comprises a neck comprising a pair of opposing surfaces.
 13. An apparatus for stabilizing a chair comprising at least one leg that rests on a floor surface, the apparatus comprising: a receiver configured to snugly receive the at least one chair leg; and at least one foot configured to engage the floor surface, the at least one foot being rigidly connected with respect to the receiver through a unitary construction.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, comprising a pair of feet comprising a planar geometry.
 15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one foot comprises a tapered geometry.
 16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the receiver comprises a collar.
 17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the longitudinal axis of the receiver is laterally offset with respect to the longitudinal axis of the at least one foot.
 18. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a neck to connect the receiver and the at least one foot.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the neck comprises a pair of parallel planar bodies.
 20. A method for stabilizing a chair comprising at least one leg that rests on a floor surface, the method comprising: providing an apparatus for stabilizing the chair, the apparatus comprising a receiver and a base for engaging the floor surface; snugly receiving the at least one chair leg within the apparatus receiver; and receiving a resistive force from the floor surface onto the base. 